The Clinton statement on Florida

by Jerome Armstrong, Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 06:58:07 AM EST

Here's their statement:

"I hear all the time from people in Florida and Michigan that they want their voices heard in selecting the Democratic nominee.

"I believe our nominee will need the enthusiastic support of Democrats in these states to win the general election, and so I will ask my Democratic convention delegates to support seating the delegations from Florida and Michigan. I know not all of my delegates will do so and I fully respect that decision. But I hope to be President of all 50 states and U.S. territories, and that we have all 50 states represented and counted at the Democratic convention.

"I hope my fellow potential nominees will join me in this.

"I will of course be following the no-campaigning pledge that I signed, and expect others will as well."

This sets up an interesting showdown between Dean and Clinton, for the meantime, but as Clinton notes, when it comes down to seating the FL & MI delegation, its the already seated delegates that will decide that outcome, not the DNC.

Tags: 2008 election (all tags)

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How's that not campaigning in FL & MI?

Sucking up to FL delegates prior to its primary, and campaigning to have MI delegates counted after they've committed to her?

by magster 2008-01-25 07:03AM | 0 recs

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Shocking isn't it?

Absolutely shocking.

by ottovbvs 2008-01-25 07:05AM | 0 recs

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Re: How's that not campaigning in FL &amp; MI?

The DNC has an official definition of "campaigning." While it is rather broad, I do not believe "sucking up" is included.

by Steve M 2008-01-25 07:06AM | 0 recs

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sucking up does not = campaigning?

2 words: Mitt Romney

by magster 2008-01-25 07:09AM | 0 recs

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Re: sucking up does not = campaigning?

I think I also saw Hillary drinking some Florida orange juice at breakfast.

by Steve M 2008-01-25 07:15AM | 0 recs

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Re: sucking up does not = campaigning?

Smart move. ;)

by masslib1 2008-01-25 07:17AM | 0 recs

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Drinking OJ? Isn't that a racist attack on Obama?

There's no excuse for these sort of racist attacks. Bill will be drinking mint juleps next.

by ottovbvs 2008-01-25 07:23AM | 0 recs

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Smart move by Clinton.

Starts putting FL on radar which it will be anyway. I've always believed they would have plan for raising visibility down there but staying legal so no one gets ticked off.

by ottovbvs 2008-01-25 07:04AM | 0 recs

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Re: Smart move by Clinton.

She should fly in to Florida on Tuesday night.

by prisonbreak 2008-01-25 07:07AM | 0 recs

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Re: Smart move by Clinton.

I have a feeling that's happening. That's what Obama was complaining about, I think. Her staff checking out large venues. I think she's planning a victory Party. I still think she needs to make a trip to MI to thank her supporters.

by masslib1 2008-01-25 07:09AM | 0 recs

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Promoting FL is no brainer.

They had to have some scheme up their sleeve. The media is going to be all over FL on Tuesday because of the Republican contest. The Democratic party in FL is making a huge effort for a big turnout down there, all the candidates names are on ballot. She is almost certainly going to pull in the high fifties so there is no way you ignore this. Of course if Obama wins they'll turn on a dime but I think they can go ahead with those ballroom bookings don't you.

by ottovbvs 2008-01-25 07:20AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

There will be no showdown between Dean and Clinton. The decision to seat delegates will not be made until the convention by the delegates who have been seated.

If this is Hillary's attempt to embarrass or pressure Howard, she can save herself some time and trouble. Rahm Emmanuel tried to do it and he wasn't successful, either.

by KimPossible 2008-01-25 07:21AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

This move isn't directed at Howard Dean, it's aimed directly at Obama. She has now put him in the position of either saying he'll ignore the Florida delegation (which would be incredibly bad for him) or agreeing with her, thus raising the profile of the primary. Either way, it's win/win for Clinton and lose/lose for Obama.

by Denny Crane 2008-01-25 10:23AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

The spin over at Daily Kos is that this was a big FU directed at Howard Dean by the Clinton campaign. I give them credit for a very creative argument, although it's total bullshit of course.

I'm pretty sure Howard Dean was fully aware when MI and FL were punished that their delegations would likely be seated at the end of the day. That wasn't the purpose of the punishment.

by Steve M 2008-01-25 10:55AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

I don't see how this pits her against Dean who has said that it is up to the nominee whether to seat the delegates at the convention.

by Step Beyond 2008-01-25 07:32AM | 0 recs

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Found a quote

From St Pete Times

"The reality is if you want to know if Florida is going to be seated, ask the Democratic nominee as soon as one emerges," Pelosi said.

Dean agreed.

"At the end of the day, the nominee will make a decision, essentially about who gets seated," Dean agreed.

by Step Beyond 2008-01-25 07:45AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

OF COURSE THE DELEGATES WILL BE SEATED!! We need Florida in November in order to retake the Whitehouse.

by nzubechukwu 2008-01-25 08:44AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

Howard Dean must be hoping for a Decisive win come Super Duper Mega Awesome Orgasmic Tuesday. They last thing he wants is for the delegates from Michigan and Florida to be the deciding factor. If Hillary wins outright, then he can let them back in as a show of unity.

by C S Strowbridge 2008-01-25 09:36AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

What an utter sleaze ball. Her opponents follow the rules and don't campaign there. Then she wins and claims the delegates. But her opponents would have won more if they hadn't followed the rules.

by mainelib 2008-01-25 09:53AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

Eh? Obama has broken the rules by airing cable ads that play in Florida markets.

What campaigning has Hillary done in Florida?

If you want to talk about sleazeball, how about arranging a last-minute withdrawal from the ballot in Michigan in an attempt to embarrass Hillary in a state where Obama was going to get his clock cleaned?

I detest "movement" politics and one of the reasons is that it always descends into near-deification of the candidate by his/her followers. A lot of Obama supporters seem to think he's a saint whose excrement doesn't stink.

by InigoMontoya 2008-01-25 11:27AM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

I am going to push to have Colorado have a voice and hold our Primary for 2012 on July 4, 2010.
I am tired of my State being cast off.
Just think of the attention Colorado will receive.
Sure some candidates will chose to not campaign here, but at their own peril. Our delegates will have to be seated for the vote because to do less is disenfranchisement. (there is a killer scrabble word)
Because, no National Party has a right to dictate (and I do use the word dictate)when Colorado's Primary...
Am I right?

by nogo war 2008-01-25 01:46PM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

One thing we got to make sure we don't piss of the Florida Democratic Party too much cause Lord knows we need them in November.

That being said I don't think they should count them, it would simply be unfair to the other nominees. I agree with Marshall, Clinton should have contested this when it first happened.

by wiretapp 2008-01-25 03:18PM | 0 recs

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Re: The Clinton statement on Florida

Does anyone have the quotes from Florida papers when Obama said that he would seat the delegates?

by world dictator 2008-01-25 04:15PM | 0 recs